Rake.



PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

Application filed April 27, 1905. Serial No. 257,777

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL PFEIFFER, a subject of the GermanEmperor,residing at Jena, Saxe-Weimar, Germany, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rakes, of which the following is a full,exact, and clear specification.

The present invention relates to rakes with interchangeable prong-bars,so that the same handle may be used for a rake with prongs standin wideapart and may be readily change for a bar with prongs leaving narrow saces. To this end the prong-bar is provided with two projections ortenons of special form which can be readily inserted into suitableopenings at the end of the fork of the handle.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 shows a rake in plan view. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.Fig. 3 illustrates the connection of the handle with the prong-bar atone end of the latter, and Fig. 4 shows these parts in the position ofassembling. Fig. 5 shows the prong-bar in elevation separately with itstwo projections or tenons, and Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

The fork ends a and b of the handle are provided with openings 0 and d,adapted to receive the tenons e and f of the different prongbars, whichmaybe interchanged. The tenon e is T-sha ed and rests in a slot of thearm a of particu ar shape, so as to retain the prongbar in place whenproperly turned into position. The tenonf of the other end of the bar 9is flat and of rectangular cross-section, fitting into a rectangularhole (I at the end of the arm I), and is secured therein by a cotter-pinh, passing through a round hole.

The opening in the arm a consists in an 0 en slot '11 with a cross-cutof approximately e width of the web of thetenone. One corner formed bythis cross-slot is cut out and rounded, as shown in Fig. 3, and markedby the letter 00. In inserting one of the bars 9 the T-shaped tenon e isplaced into the slot '5, as shown m Fig. 4. Then the bar is turned forninety degrees in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4. The edge of theweb slides thereby into one end of the cross-cut, while the oppositeedge is allowed by the recess 00 to turn into the opposite end of saidcross-cut.

When the bar 9 is thus in the position shown in Fig. 3, it is solidlyconnected with the arm a of the handle. The tenon f is now pushedthrough the rectangular opening (1 of the arm I) and secured therein bya cotter-pin.

It will be understood from the above that the bars 9 are firmly held inthe ends a b of the handle and that for interchanging the same it isonly necessary to take out the cotter-pin, whereupon the prong-bar caneasily be turned into a position to be renewed.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is y Rake withinterchangeable prong-bar composed of a forked handle having at one ofthe ends of the fork a rectangular perforation d, and at the other handan open slot 01 with a cross-cut and a'rounded recess 00, and of aprong-bar with a flat rectangular proj ectionf aving a cotter-pin holenear one end and with a T-shaped tenon near the other end, the firstadapted to fit the rectangular perforation atone of the forked ends ofthe handle, the latter to fit the slot 7; with cross-cut, substantiallyas described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CARL PFEIFFER In presence of' F. STEPHAN, CHARLES N EUER.

